Written Answers Monday 6 June 2005

Scottish Executive

Ambulance Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-16363 by Mr Andy Kerr on 18 May 2005, what the Operational Research Consultancy (ORCON) standards have been for the Scottish Ambulance Service in each year since 2002, broken down by local authority area.

Mr Andy Kerr: Between August 2002 and April 2004, the ORCON standards were phased out across mainland Scotland as the Scottish Ambulance Service adopted the priority-based dispatch system, which categorises calls based on the risk to the patient. The targets which are used to measure the ambulance service’s performance under the new system are based partly (in relation to response times to non-life threatening calls) on the population density of each NHS board area. These were set out in the reply to the answer to question S2W-16363. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/wa.search .

  ORCON standards are now used only to measure performance of the ambulance service in the areas of NHS Western Isles, NHS Shetland and NHS Orkney.

Building Control

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-16620 by Johann Lamont on 24 May 2005, whether the Scottish Building Standards Agency is considering any further applications to be scheme providers and whether there are any barriers to the recognition of alternative scheme providers by the Scottish Building Standards Agency.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Dr Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows:

  
The SBSA is presently considering several applications from organisations wishing to become scheme providers under the new system of certification.


  There are no barriers to the recognition of alternative scheme providers. Such applicants are assisted by the existence of an approved scheme framework within which they may develop proposals for providing that same scheme. The procedures for approval of schemes and providers are described in the Certification Handbook which is available on the SBSA website at www.sbsa.gov.uk.

Climate Change

Frances Curran (West of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will produce comprehensive and integrated planning guidance on climate change to ensure that issues such as food and fuel miles can be addressed.

Johann Lamont: A wide ranging consultant’s report entitled The Planning Response to Climate Change – Advice on Better Practice was issued by the Executive and the other UK planning administrations in September 2004. It includes brief references to local food sourcing and opportunities to reduce food miles in the summary table on page 31. Copies of the report have been sent to the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 34668).

Discrimination

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on addressing sexual discrimination in the workplace in each year since 1999.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive is working in partnership with a range of organisations representing employers and employees to support the Close the Gap campaign which was launched in March 2001. The Executive has contributed £150,000 to this campaign since 2001.

  In addition, measures to combat gender segregation in employment will contribute to reducing the gender pay gap as will the provision of flexible, affordable childcare. We are not yet in a position to quantify total spend in this very broad cross-cutting area. However, the Executive is developing guidance that will assist in assessing the gender equality impact of spending plans across its departments. Experience from other countries indicates that this is a long-term process and we are seeking to sustain progress each year.

Enterprise

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people of ethnic minority origin are involved in delivering the Business Gateway.

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people of ethnic minority origin are currently employed in the delivery of the Business Gateway programme.

Mr Jim Wallace: The delivery of Business Gateway is managed by Scottish Enterprise on behalf of partners. Details of the number of ethnic minority staff supporting this role is therefore an operational matter for the Scottish Enterprise Network.

  Scottish Enterprise’s commitment to equal opportunities employment is embedded in its equal opportunities policy. They aim to encourage diversity in their workplace through policies and practices which promote creativity, talent and results regardless of ethnic origin, colour, age, disability, gender, marital status, religion or sexual orientation.

European Union

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following the Deputy First Minister’s discussion with the European Commissioner for Regional Policy, it will support a European Union budget that maintains regional funding for the Highlands and Islands.

Mr Jim Wallace: To the extent that an increased United Kingdom contribution to the Commission budget could result in a reduction in the Scottish Assigned Budget, the Scottish Executive supports a budget discipline approach to the negotiations on the future of EU budget post-2006. The UK Treasury has estimated that the Commission’s proposed budget of 1.24% of EU GNI would cost the United Kingdom around Euro 25 billion between 2007 and 2013.

  Notwithstanding the outcome of the negotiations on the EU budget, however, the Scottish Executive is committed to a continuing regional development policy in Scotland, including the Highlands and Islands.

European Union

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following the Deputy First Minister’s recent discussions with the European Commissioner for Regional Policy, it supports a European Union budget that maintains regional funding for the south of Scotland.

Mr Jim Wallace: To the extent that an increased United Kingdom contribution to the Commission budget could result in a reduction in the Scottish Assigned Budget, the Scottish Executive supports a budget discipline approach to the negotiations on the future of EU budget post-2006. The UK Treasury has estimated that the Commission’s proposed budget of 1.24% of EU GNI would cost the United Kingdom around Euro 25 billion between 2007 and 2013.

  Notwithstanding the outcome of the negotiations on the EU budget, however, the Scottish Executive is committed to a continuing regional development policy in Scotland, including the South of Scotland.

Financial Inclusion

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the £5 million per annum for the Financial Inclusion Action Plan announced earlier this year will be distributed.

Johann Lamont: In line with our Closing the Opportunity Gap target, this funding will be distributed to the areas where there are currently the greatest problems of financial exclusion. Based on levels of income deprivation and the numbers of Scottish people without a bank account or savings, funding will be distributed to the following ten local authorities weighted according to the extent of the problem in their areas.

  

Local Authority
% Households Without Bank Account or Savings
% of LA Population that are Income Deprived
Funding Allocation


Glasgow City
21.9
27.8 
900,000


West Dunbartonshire
15.8
21.2 
600,000


Inverclyde
15.2
18.8 
600,000


North Lanarkshire
14.5
18.5 
500,000


South Lanarkshire
14.1
15.5 
500,000


Renfrewshire
13.1
15.8 
450,000


Dundee City
12.9
19.7 
450,000


West Lothian 
10.6
13.8 
350,000


East Ayrshire
10.5
18.0 
350,000


Eilean Siar
8.9
15.2 
300,000

Fisheries

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whom it will consult in its deliberations about whether there is a case for a prohibition on scallop fishing within the Firth of Lorn Special Area of Conservation and what the timescale for a decision on this matter will be.

Ross Finnie: The Executive is considering whether or not there is a case for a prohibition on scallop fishing within the Firth of Lorn Special Area of Conservation and in doing so has so far consulted Scottish Natural Heritage and Fisheries Research Services. Decisions on what action, if any, may be required will be taken as soon as possible.

Fisheries

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place to progress the designation to shellfish standard of the north-east shoreline from Dundee to Aberdeen.

Ross Finnie: The area of the north east shoreline from Dundee to Aberdeen currently has no designations under either of the Shellfish Directives. Designations under the Shellfish Waters Directive (79/923/EEC) are made by the Scottish Executive, based upon production data collected by Fisheries Research Services to show that there is sustainable shellfish production which requires protection. No data has been forthcoming from this area to support such a designation. The Shellfish Hygiene Directive (91/492/EEC) is administered by the Food Standards Agency (Scotland). Designations are made on the basis of application by shellfish producers to the FSA(S). FSA(S) inform me that no such applications have been made in this area.

Fresh Talent Initiative

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applicants under the Fresh Talent initiative have had their visa applications turned down.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme is due to be launched by the end of June. Information relating to applications will not be available until after the scheme is operational.

Fresh Talent Initiative

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people the Fresh Talent initiative has brought to Scotland.

Mr Tom McCabe: Fresh Talent is a long-term initiative. Therefore, evaluating its overall success will take time. We will, however, be carrying out some more immediate evaluations of strands of activity which will give us some useful data. For example, we will know how many people successfully apply to live and work in Scotland under the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme, and we are currently developing, in conjunction with the Home Office, a robust and workable arrangement for monitoring and evaluating the scheme. We also know the number of people who are interested in living and working in Scotland, through enquiries to the Relocation Advisory Service and visits to our website. An evaluation of the Relocation Advisory Service, which is now underway, will also provide us with some useful information.

G8 Summit

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive on whose advice the decision to erect a perimeter fence around Holyrood during the G8 summit was taken.

Cathy Jamieson: Operational decisions on the security of the Holyrood site are the responsibility of the Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders Police.

G8 Summit

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive who will pay the costs associated with the perimeter fence to be erected around Holyrood during the G8 summit.

Cathy Jamieson: The UK Government and the Scottish Executive have already announced that additional funding will be made available to help meet the agreed additional policing costs incurred in connection with this year’s G8 summit.

G8 Summit

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive why the perimeter fence to be erected around Holyrood during the G8 summit is considered necessary when the parliament building already has a blast wall and other counter-terrorist features.

Cathy Jamieson: Operational decisions on the security of the Holyrood site are the responsibility of the Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders Police.

Health

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether exercise therapy can be prescribed by GPs for patients diagnosed with osteoporosis.

Mr Andy Kerr: Evidence suggests that exercise is a useful intervention for people with osteoporosis and is recommended in the SIGN Guideline 71. GPs can refer patients diagnosed with osteoporosis for an appropriate exercise programme as suggested in the SIGN Guideline.

Health

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information was given to patients treated with Scottish factor VIII prior to 1987.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Report Hepatitis C and Heat Treatment of Blood Products for Haemophiliacs in the mid 1980’s , published in October 2000, a copy of which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 36612), discusses the information that was given to patients.

  According to the Report, Haemophilia Centre Directors believed that patients and parents were informed of the risk of hepatitis as part of general education on haemophilia and its treatments, including:

  
use of educational material, including that produced by the UK Haemophilia Society;
  education for patients and carers about home treatment with factor concentrates; 
  hepatitis warning signs and cross-infection precautions, in haemophilia centre treatment areas, and
  national and local meetings of the UK Haemophilia Society.


  Details on the actual information provided are not held centrally but would be available from the Haemophilia Directors.

Health

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what choice of treatment was available to patients diagnosed with (a) HIV and/or (b) hepatitis C prior to 1987.

Mr Andy Kerr: Prior to 1987, there were no effective anti-retroviral therapies for HIV and Hep C. Hep C was not identified until 1989. It was not until the mid-90’s that a licensed antiviral therapy became available.

  For HIV, certain treatments for life-threatening conditions associated with HIV were available. Effective combination anti-retroviral therapy became available in the UK in 1996.

Health

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what counselling was offered to patients diagnosed with (a) HIV and/or (b) hepatitis C prior to 1987.

Mr Andy Kerr: Counselling for patients diagnosed with hepatitis C was not available prior to 1987 as hepatitis C was not discovered until 1989. Testing to diagnose the Hepatitis C Virus infection only became available in 1991.

  For HIV patients, testing for HIV infection became available in late 1985. Most of the cases seen were in injecting drug users though appreciable numbers where in men who have sex with men and haemophiliacs. Most cases were diagnosed in dedicated counselling clinics attached to the City Hospital in Edinburgh and Ruchill Hospital in Glasgow and in the genitor-urinary medicine clinics in these cities. Counsellors in these clinics, together with clinicians and other health care staff, social work staff and voluntary sector staff provided further support during this period.

Housing

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out any research into the Scandinavian model of co-housing.

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has provided any incentives to registered social landlords to explore and develop co-housing.

Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-14999 on 18 March 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament/webapp/wa.search .

Housing

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-6781 by Malcolm Chisholm on 19 May 2005, what the business plan new-build timescales and targets were for each of the existing whole-stock transfer organisations and to what extent new-build start and completion targets have been met.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  
Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) is the only existing whole-stock transfer organisation with plans for new-build housing.
A total of 6,000 new properties are planned to be completed by 2012-13 for GHA tenants whose homes will be demolished as part of GHA’s regeneration plans. 2,800 units will be delivered directly by GHA with a further 3,000 properties built by other registered social landlords and 200 units from programmes already agreed by Glasgow City Council.
Last year the first phase of the new build programme totalling 600 homes to be delivered by other Registered Social Landlords began. So far, 119 new homes have been approved with funding of £2.23 million. Further funding of £2 million has been earmarked for the current year with another 376 homes expected to be approved by the end of March 2006.


  GHA’s own contribution to the programme was deferred during 2004-05 pending consideration of its wider assessment of future stock requirements.

  In its statement of intent 2005-06, GHA has set three targets:

  
by June 2005, to agree the first three year programme of its new build strategy within the context of a 10-year outline programme;
  by March 2006, to reach agreement with GCC on 100 GHA new build units within GCC Regeneration Projects, and
  by March 2006, to achieve site start for 100 units.

Housing

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15710 by Malcolm Chisholm on 25 April 2005, how many of the scheduled new-build starts for (a) affordable rent and (b) low-cost home ownership for 2005-06 have received firm funding approval.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  
Two hundred and twenty new-build starts for affordable rent and 22 new-build starts for low-cost home ownership for 2005-06 have received firm funding approval from Communities Scotland, which is in line with what would be expected at this early stage in the new financial year.

Housing

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15710 by Malcolm Chisholm on 25 April 2005, what the projected (a) start and (b) completion dates are for the scheduled new-build starts for (i) affordable rent and (ii) low-cost home ownership in 2005-06.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  
In total, 6,400 new build starts will be approved for funding by Communities Scotland in 2005-06 and these will receive scheduled start and completion dates during the course of this financial year as each individual project is legally approved. However, until projects are legally approved, no confirmed detail on scheduled start and completions dates is available.

Housing

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many housing new-build completions there were for (a) affordable rent and (b) low-cost home ownership in each of the last three financial years and how many are projected for 2005-06.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  
Ministers have given a commitment to approve 21,500 new and improved homes for social rent and low-cost home ownership in the three years up to 2008. The principal mechanism for funding this new affordable housing is the Scottish Executive Housing Investment Programme. The number of new and improved homes for affordable rent and low-cost home ownership approved with funding from Communities Scotland which were completed in the financial years 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05 and projected for 2005-06 are as follows:


  

 
Affordable Rent
Low-Cost Home Ownership


2002-03
4,345
1,075


2003-04
3,753
489


2004-05
4,397
990


2005-06 Planned
4,562
948



  The number of completions in an individual year is determined by the number of units approved for construction in previous years. Large or complex housing projects, especially when linked to a wider regeneration initiative, can often take some time to be formally completed. In addition, in some instances, there is a time-lag in the recording of this data and these figures are therefore subject to revision.

Judicial Appointments

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what programme of visits to sheriff courts has been undertaken by the Judicial Appointments Board since its inception.

Cathy Jamieson: Lay members of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland have undertaken familiarisation visits to sheriff courts. The five legal members were already familiar with the courts system.

Judicial Appointments

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what regular contact and communication is maintained by members of the Judicial Appointments Board with sheriff courts.

Cathy Jamieson: The Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland includes among its members a serving sheriff and a serving sheriff principal. Several other members of the board have contact and communication with sheriffs on a regular basis as part of their professional lives. In addition, representatives of the board have met with representatives of the Sheriff’s Association: on 27 April 2004 and on 25 January 2005. Such contact is maintained as needed rather than on a predetermined basis.

Judicial Appointments

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what training is given to members of the Judicial Appointments Board before and during the period of their appointment.

Cathy Jamieson: There are five legal members of the Judicial Appointments Board: a judge, a sheriff principal, a sheriff, a solicitor and an advocate. The five lay members bring their own professional backgrounds to the board, with expertise for example in human resources and in education. One is also a professor of law. No training was therefore offered prior to appointment. After appointment, lay members have undertaken familiarisation with the courts. The board has met with the Lord President of the Court of Session and with the Director of the Judicial Studies Committee. It has also commissioned presentations on equal opportunities and on recruitment and selection processes.

Judicial Appointments

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what regular contact and communication is maintained by members of the Judicial Appointments Board with existing members of the judiciary in Scotland.

Cathy Jamieson: Three members of the board are members of the judiciary in Scotland. Three other members meet very regularly with existing members of the judiciary as part of their professional lives. After receiving the board’s recommendations, the First Minister consults with the Lord President of the Court of Session – Scotland’s senior judge – before making recommendations for appointment to Her Majesty the Queen.

Justice

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15655 by Rhona Brankin on 11 May 2005, what guidance is given to the police on the classes of persons, other than police offers, authorised to apply restraint to persons in a public place.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive has not issued central guidance to the police covering the classes of persons authorised to apply restraint to persons in a public place. The operational guidance and instruction given to police officers is a matter for Chief Constables.

Justice

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive by what means people who have been wrongfully convicted can claim compensation; how many applications for compensation there are at each stage of the application process, and how long on average applicants have been waiting for their applications to be processed.

Cathy Jamieson: Section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 provides that Scottish ministers shall pay compensation in cases where a conviction is reversed on the ground that a new or newly discovered fact shows beyond reasonable doubt that there has been a miscarriage of justice. There may also be exceptional circumstances that justify compensation in other cases. The amount of compensation paid is determined on the advice and recommendation of an independent assessor, based on a memorandum prepared by the Justice Department, compiling information submitted by the applicant, other relevant papers and taking account of comments from the applicant. In considering claims, the assessor applies principles analogous to those on which claims for damages arising from civil wrongs are assessed. The assessor also has the power to recommend interim payments to applicants where they provide evidence of immediate need.

  The following information shows the number of applications at each stage in the process:

  

Number of Applications:
8


Eligibility Determined:
5


Memorandum Agreed: 
3


Interim Payment Applied For:
1


Interim Payment Made:
1


Assessor Determining Final Payment:
3



  Generally we would expect to submit a successful claim for compensation to an assessor within three to four months of receipt of an application. Such a target can only be indicative however as the circumstances of each case vary greatly. The time taken for other stages also varies according to the complexity of the case and any delays which arise as a result of necessary background documentation being requested from the applicant or their agent.

Ministerial Correspondence

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Justice will reply to my letter of 21 April 2005.

Cathy Jamieson: A response to your letter of 21 April 2005 was issued on 1 June 2005.

NHS 24

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average time taken for NHS 24 staff to call callers back has been.

Mr Andy Kerr: At all times, all clinically urgent calls are dealt with immediately by NHS 24 nurse advisers. During peak times, less clinically urgent calls are prioritised and receive a call back by a nurse adviser within a specific timescale. All callers who are categorised in this way are advised that should their condition deteriorate or they become concerned they should immediately contact the service again.

  In April 2005, NHS 24 answered 127,657 calls and dealt with 46,178 - 45% - of these by using call back procedures. NHS 24 aims to call back Priority 1 calls within one hour and Priority 2 calls within two hours. In April, the average time to call back Priority 1 calls was 19 minutes, and Priority 2 calls 56 minutes.

NHS 24

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of training is given to telephone operators working for NHS 24.

Mr Andy Kerr: The content of the training for NHS 24 call handlers forms an essential induction, as well as training process, for staff who are unlikely to have worked in either an NHS or a contact centre environment before.

  Induction training for call handlers runs over a three week period and covers a diverse range of areas including communication, health care governance, performance management, telephony skills, consultation review, medical terminology, call handler section decision support software, assessment and live experience and call handler processes and responsibilities. Call handlers are also trained to identify immediately life-threatening calls and can arrange for a call to be transferred to the Scottish Ambulance Service.

  Training is followed by a period, which will vary according to the needs of the individual, where call handlers are teamed up with experienced members of staff to ensure that they have achieved full competency prior to taking calls.

  Calls are recorded and are routinely monitored by front-line managers and further support training is provided where indicated.

NHS 24

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS 24 positions are unfilled.

Mr Andy Kerr: There are currently 300 actual and 198.5 full-time equivalent call handlers in NHS 24. Recruitment is ongoing to bring the total full-time equivalent to 220.

  There are currently 475 actual and 308 full-time equivalent nurse advisers in post. The NHS 24 recruitment team is working towards bringing the full-time equivalent to 405.

  Recruitment for nurse advisers has, since late 2004, been targeted at part-time staff, working evenings and weekends. This reflects the peak call volumes, the increased flexibility achieved by part-time staff and is designed to attract applicants from a new pool, who would not otherwise be able to work for NHS 24.

NHS Funding

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3329 by Malcolm Chisholm on 6 November 2003, what percentage of NHS funding allocated using the Arbuthnott formula was allocated to each NHS board for the current year and will be allocated for the next three years, expressed also on a per capita basis.

Mr Andy Kerr: Details of Arbuthnott target percentages used to allocate NHS funding and per capita funding for 2005-06 are as follows:

  

NHS Board
2005-06 Arbuthnott Formula Target
(%)
2005-06 Per Capita
(%)


Argyll and Clyde
8.637
8.246


Ayrshire and Arran
7.814
7.260


Borders
2.255
2.141


Dumfries and Galloway
3.252
2.911


Fife
6.763
6.959


Forth Valley
5.300
5.530


Grampian
9.078
10.349


Greater Glasgow
18.343
17.131


Highland
4.602
4.134


Lanarkshire
10.762
10.943


Lothian
13.555
15.423


Orkney
0.418
0.382


Shetland
0.443
0.432


Tayside
8.022
7.643


Western Isles
0.756
0.516



  Indicative allocations for 2006-07 and 2007-08 have been calculated on the basis of 2005-06 Arbuthnott target percentages. No indicative allocations have yet been made for 2008-09.

NHS Staff

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how long it takes to fill a consultant neurologist post.

Mr Andy Kerr: The length of time it takes to fill each consultancy vacancy within the health service in Scotland varies from post-to-post.

  The average time taken to fill such a post is six months assuming that there is no recruitment from other areas of the United Kingdom or from overseas. This is due to the particular recruitment process that has to be undertaken by each NHSScotland board employer when such a post becomes available in the health service and also taking into account each individual consultant’s period of notice that has to be given to their own individual employer.

  However, the department is aware of the difficulties that some NHSScotland boards are experiencing in securing some specialist professional staff to undertake the various duties within the health service across the whole of Scotland. These workforce issues are being addressed rigorously and NHSScotland boards as employers are pursing several initiatives on behalf of the health service that will make the NHS in Scotland, as an exemplar employer, an attractive career option so to recruit and retain more staff.

  Also, to assist NHSScotland board employers meet local health needs, the department has set up a national workforce planning exercise to address these issues and the impact of staff shortages across the whole of the NHSScotland workforce.

  This activity is all taking place within a background of Scottish, United Kingdom and, indeed global, shortages in some specialties.

NHS Staff

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what categories of specialist nurse are employed by NHS boards and how many of each category are employed by each board.

Mr Andy Kerr: Information on staff in post in NHS Scotland is published on the Scottish Health Statistics website under Workforce Statistics, at www.isdscotland.org/workforce .

  Section E gives details of nursing and midwifery staff employed in NHS Scotland. In particular, table E18 shows the whole-time equivalent (WTE) number and headcount of clinical nurse specialists, broken down by NHS board area. WTE adjusts headcount staff figures to take account of part-time staff. Latest available figures are at 30 September 2004.

NHS Staff

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the country of study of all qualified (a) medical and (b) nursing staff in the NHS.

Mr Andy Kerr: Centrally held information identifies the country of qualification for medical and dental staff working in the Hospital, Community and Public Health Services (HCHS) of NHS Scotland. The latest available information is correct at 30 September 2004.

  Sixty-six percent of "All HCHS Medical and Dental Staff" identified Scotland as their country of qualification.

  A breakdown by each of the different medical and dental grades can be found in Table B5 on the Scottish Health Statistics website under Workforce Statistics, at www.isdscotland.org/wf_medical.

  This information is not available for nursing staff.

National Health Service

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can give an assurance to patients in the NHS Highland area that current services will not be reduced in order to meet funding pressures in Argyll and Clyde.

Mr Andy Kerr: I announced my proposals about NHS Argyll and Clyde to the Parliament on 19 May 2005. Subject to the planned public consultation and to implementation thereafter, including writing off the accumulated financial deficit incurred by NHS Argyll and Clyde, financial allocations to Highland and Greater Glasgow NHS Boards will be adjusted to reflect the addition to their areas of people currently resident in the Argyll and Clyde NHS Board area. This will ensure that the successor NHS boards are funded on the same basis and to the same level as all other parts of Scotland.

  Decisions about the allocation of resources within an NHS board area are matters for each board, subject to them meeting targets set by the Executive and complying with relevant standards. However, I would not expect residents in the existing area covered by NHS Highland to see a reduction in services as a result of the planned boundary changes.

National Health Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15757 by Mr Andy Kerr on 3 May 2005, who took the decision to amalgamate Wishaw and Hairmyres histopathology units and when this decision was taken.

Mr Andy Kerr: I regret that the information about NHS Lanarkshire in my answer to question S2W-15757 answered on 3 May 2005 was incorrect. No decision has been taken by NHS Lanarkshire about the future of Wishaw and Hairmyres histopathology units. I understand that the matter is under consideration by NHS Lanarkshire Acute Division.

National Health Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which hospital information systems are in use in NHS hospitals.

Mr Andy Kerr: The main hospital information systems in use in NHS Scotland hospitals are iSoft’s Patient Administration System (13 instances), COMPAS Patient Administration System (15 instances), Meditech Hospital Information System (3 instances), Capula’s Oasis Hospital Information System (2 instances), and McKesson’s Star Hospital Information System (1 instance). A range of departmental systems e.g. for laboratory and radiology departments are used alongside these systems.

National Health Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which hospital information system is in use at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

Mr Andy Kerr: The main hospital systems currently in use at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh are the iSoft Patient Administrative System and the iSoft laboratory system. The Trac system is in use in the accident and emergency department.

National Health Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the hospital information system in use at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh was selected in open competition; how it was compared with other systems available, and what criteria were applied in the comparison.

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, if the hospital information system in use at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh has not been successfully implemented, there are penalty clauses with the supplier for (a) complete or (b) partial failure of the system.

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive who was involved in the selection of the hospital information system currently in use at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the hospital information system (HIS) in use at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh has been successfully implemented and how many attempts it took to implement the system successfully, regardless of the supplier of the HIS.

Mr Andy Kerr: This is a matter for Lothian Health Board. The information requested is not held centrally.

National Health Service

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has written to NHS Greater Glasgow to express any concern at the 85% reduction in the number of staffed beds in its accident and emergency departments (A&E) between June 1999 and December 2004.

Mr Andy Kerr: No, this is about the classification and designation of beds. The reduction in the number of staffed beds attributed to A&E across NHS Greater Glasgow over this period is based on the closure of Ward 29 at Glasgow Royal Infirmary in 2002. This ward closed when A&E services transferred from the old hospital into the brand new Jubilee Building. From this time, patients have been treated in modern purpose-built accommodation, in new wards for head injuries patients, orthopaedics and medicine. These beds, however, are not classified as A&E beds but counted within their host specialty.

National Health Service

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS operations were cancelled at less than one (a) day’s and (b) week’s notice due to lack of bed space in each hospital in each NHS board area in (a) 2002-03, (b) 2003-04 and (c) 2004-05.

Mr Andy Kerr: The specific information requested is not available centrally.

Prison Service

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of (a) men and (b) women held in prison completed a rehabilitation course prior to release in each year since 1999.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information is not available in the form requested, but SPS Annual Reports since 2002-03 give details of average prisoner numbers and of prisoner programmes and approved activities completed by SPS, copies of which are available on the SPS website at www.sps.gov.uk and in the Parliament’s Reference Centre. Additionally, Exhibits 11, 14, 15, 20 and Appendices 1 and 2 of the Audit Scotland Report Scottish Prison Service Correctional Opportunities for Prisoners give a variety of information on programmes and approved activities and SPS performance in this area.

Prisoner Escorts

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7558 by Cathy Jamieson on 20 May 2004, whether the figure of £126 million for the net present value of the contract with Reliance Secure Task Management Ltd for the escort of prisoners included VAT.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  
VAT was not included in the Net Present Value calculations.

Prisoner Escorts

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what stage the roll-out of the contract with Reliance Secure Task Management Ltd for the escort of prisoners has now reached.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  
It is fully rolled out.

Public Sector Staff

Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil service jobs have been relocated to Perth and Kinross in each year since 2000.

Tavish Scott: Under the Scottish Executive’s Relocation policy no jobs have been relocated to Perth and Kinross since 2000. Relocation decisions have been made on a case-by-case basis taking into account the nature and requirements of the organisation under review. Perth and Kinross has been assessed equally along with all other parts of the country using a specific set of "weighting and scoring" criteria as each relocation opportunity arises.

Public Sector Staff

Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil service jobs have been relocated to Angus in each year since 2000.

Tavish Scott: Under the Scottish Executive’s Relocation policy no jobs have been relocated to Angus since 2000. Relocation decisions have been made on a case-by-case basis taking into account the nature and requirements of the organisation under review. Angus has been assessed equally along with all other parts of the country using a specific set of "weighting and scoring" criteria as each relocation opportunity arises.

Racial Equality

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15885 by Malcolm Chisholm on 19 April 2005, which audit and inspection bodies have a statutory responsibility to assess compliance with the duty to promote race equality and what steps they are taking to support the work of the Commission for Racial Equality.

Malcolm Chisholm: No audit and inspection bodies have a statutory responsibility to assess compliance with the duty to promote race equality under race relations legislation; the statutory responsibility falls to the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE). However, audit and inspection bodies do have a key role to play and therefore we are looking at ways of ensuring that compliance with the statutory duty to promote race equality is built into audit and inspection processes. A meeting between officials in the Executive, the CRE, and the following bodies is due to take place in early July to discuss this further:

  
HM Inspectorate of Fire Services
  Audit Scotland
  Communities Scotland
  HMI Education
  HMI Constabulary
  NHS Education
  NHS Quality Improvement
  HMI Prisons
  Care Commission
  Scottish Social Services Council
  Scottish Public Services Ombudsman
  Social Work Scotland Inspectorate
  Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Racial Equality

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15887 by Malcolm Chisholm on 19 April 2005, when the report and action plan on race equality will be published and what information it has on when a response from the Home Office will be produced following the submission of the Scottish response to the Home Office strategy.

Malcolm Chisholm: Officials are due to present advice to ministers on the review in the coming weeks and an announcement about the proposed way forward will be made shortly thereafter. We understand that the Home Office will not be responding to the Scottish report but we will be working with them to ensure it meets the requirements of the GB Strategy.

Racial Equality

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15887 by Malcolm Chisholm on 19 April 2005, whether the action plan and response to the Home Office on race equality will be race-impact assessed.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive’s review of race equality involved extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders from across Scotland and representing various minority ethnic groups. The evidence gathered will form the basis of advice to ministers on how to proceed in order to ensure effective and fair delivery of race equality and community cohesion in Scotland. Given the purpose and nature of the review, and the comprehensive consultation process, there are no plans for any further assessment.

Renewable Energy

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many, and what percentage of, companies engaged in renewable energy are (a) partly and (b) wholly Scottish-owned.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is not available centrally.

Renewable Energy

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current level of employment is in the renewable energy sector.

Mr Jim Wallace: The official source for employment estimates by industry group is the Labour Force Survey (LFS). However, data are not available on employment in the renewable energy sector from the LFS. Industry groups are constructed using Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes, which do not define the renewable energy sector specifically.

  A study into the renewable energy sector supply chain by Mott MacDonald, published in 2004, estimated that there were around 2,0001 jobs in Scotland associated with the renewable energy sector.

  Source: Renewables Supply Chain, Gap Analysis.

  Notes:

  1. The jobs estimate is expressed in full-time equivalents and includes induced jobs. Induced jobs are defined as jobs outside the renewable energy industry and its associated supply chain that are created because of activity in the renewable energy industry; e.g. additional jobs in retail arising from the increased economic activity.

Renewable Energy

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many companies are engaged in the renewable energy sector.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is not available centrally.

Social Inclusion Partnerships

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total level of spending on social inclusion partnerships (SIP) has been in each financial year since their inception, broken down by partnership.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  
The information requested is shown in the following table.


  

SIP
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-051


Aberdeen Great Northern
809,000
844,000
1,001,500
1,026,631
1,185,008
1,034,348


Arbroath2
140,000
-
-
-
-
-


Argyll and Bute
205,113
291,610
465,866
485,914
478,793
674,563


Edinburgh North
2,830,281
2,556,423
2,525,408
2,550,717
2,364,159
3,143,292


Edinburgh South
506,427
964,498
1,170,503
1,652,643
1,990,716
2,146,897


Edinburgh Strategic Programme
1,098,064
537,490
574,746
502,257
399,936
427,260


Edinburgh Youth SIP
182,331
561,891
632,215
646,787
667,461
686,672


Edinburgh Craigmillar
1,669,416
1,731,958
1,894,163
1,969,955
1,976,996
2,082,156


Alloa South and East
783,252
1,014,783
1,148,003
1,132,734
1,146,481
1,166,046


Dundee Young Carers
24,332
101,404
130,421
176,532
181,996
158,738


Dundee SIP 1
2,508,967
2,106,738
2,229,836
2,383,387
2,463,446
2,428,504


Dundee SIP 2
792,000
448,030
442,236
420,955
365,454
342,000


Dundee Xplore
181,375
269,450
628,892
514,835
497,189
472,494


East Ayrshire Coalfields
694,110
1,042,043
1,492,309
1,951,118
2,343,123
2,343,123


Tranent
93,750
128,000
216,000
223,898
227,995
227,995


Levern Valley
554,299
528,206
482,766
476,947
338,533
322,311


Falkirk
550,000
578,750
645,600
533,356
395,635
423,266


Fife
720,332
630,000
666,720
604,674
415,414
656,494


Fife Frae
55,808
153,817
189,092
195,247
191,549
201,073


Glasgow Smaller Areas
1,096,559
757,173
1,502,708
1,824,880
2,408,174
2,475,729


Glasgow Anti Racist Alliance
465,202
757,294
696,492
817,592
620,753
855,206


Glasgow Big Step
87,298
565,541
646,321
548,775
510,009
563,093


Glasgow Drumchapel
1,587,475
2,594,432
2,642,466
2,850,730
2,950,747
3,197,543


Glasgow East End
2,672,295
2,791,711
3,070,534
3,219,094
3,414,357
3,700,506


Glasgow Gorbals
541,183
731,298
846,049
913,886
952,423
933,243


Glasgow Greater Easterhouse
3,378,280
3,395,426
3,729,402
3,903,739
4,050,037
4,007,856


Glasgow Greater Govan
349,172
481,019
993,938
1,402,633
1,800,683
2,634,341


Glasgow Greater Pollok
1,701,653
2,000,916
2,731,876
3,691,778
3,838,824
3,136,685


Glasgow Milton
170,303
581,783
737,485
909,712
938,891
1,051,299


Glasgow North
3,240,883
2,984,906
3,144,375
3,329,030
3,523,690
3,532,880


Glasgow Routes Out
65,175
269,706
337,406
260,311
292,631
358,222


Glasgow Springburn
200,085
736,558
884,378
910,110
1,003,277
1,059,715


Highlands and Islands
479,730
809,329
905,744
830,948
937,066
919,223


Inverclyde
2,991,245
2,423,735
2,546,173
2,464,011
2,919,446
3,958,903


Moray Youthstart
419,556
576,000
485,065
513,561
536,555
659,563


North Ayrshire
792,559
714,000
692,104
778,730
493,211
549,143


Motherwell North
1,329,242
1,533,240
1,735,344
1,748,722
1,980,661
1,716,071


North Lanarkshire
807,162
853,681
866,752
654,435
696,160
506,708


South Coatbridge
208,947
605,124
758,558
853,580
833,889
849,174


GO-Perth
46,577
167,706
270,286
228,623
310,046
250,153


Ferguslie Park3
528,740
868,946
1,090,899
-
-
-


Paisley
2,749,276
2,748,176
2,707,953
3,127,927
3,509,751
3,566,991


Scottish Borders
154,966
226,679
310,824
310,658
331,376
401,376


Girvan
289,848
417,587
487,922
544,022
568,474
569,645


North Ayr
1,950,332
1,853,918
1,965,165
1,756,642
1,817,000
1,817,000


Blantyre/North Hamilton
498,254
1,061,010
2,226,308
3,315,505
4,365,899
4,993,508


Cambuslang
598,595
593,275
682,162
570,547
432,343
429,763


Stirling
582,356
517,446
510,905
512,733
392,729
362,501


West Dunbartonshire
2,186,700
2,086,373
2,283,571
2,514,896
2,515,937
2,753,937


West Lothian
170,792
253,525
244,474
271,400
299,070
285,070


Total
46,739,297
51,446,604
59,269,915
63,027,797
66,873,993
71,032,279



  Notes:

  1. Figures for 2004-05 may be subject to change following receipt of final grant claim. 2. Arbroath SIP, a former Regeneration Programme, ended its designation in March 2000. 3. Funding ring-fenced and reported separately from the Paisley Social Inclusion Partnership until 2002-03.

Teachers

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are applied when determining the probationary placements of recently qualified teachers.

Peter Peacock: The computer programme selects students at random and seeks to match them to available posts in the students’ preferred local authorities, in order, until a match is found.

Teachers

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many probationary teachers have been placed in schools in their (a) first, (b) second, (c) third, (d) fourth and (e) fifth choice of local authority area in each year since the introduction of the teacher induction scheme, including 2005.

Peter Peacock: The information requested is as shown in the table:

  

 
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06


1st Choice
1,390
(65%)
1,336
(67%)
1,618
(73%)
2,034
(69%)


2nd Choice
335
(16%)
315
(16%)
293
(13%)
463
(16%)


3rd Choice
220
(10%)
194
(10%)
150
(7%)
201
(7%)


4th Choice
111
(5%)
83
(4%)
103
(5%)
127
(4%)


5th Choice
82
(4%)
67
(3%)
62
(3%)
113
(4%)



  Note: Percentages may not sum to 100 due to roundings.

Teachers

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what appeals procedures are in place for probationary teachers who are dissatisfied with the local authority to which they have been allocated.

Peter Peacock: There are no formal appeals procedures, given that allocations are based on students’ own preferences.

  If a local authority agrees to release a probationer who is dissatisfied with their allocation, Scottish Executive officials will endeavour to re-allocate the probationer. However, this is dependent upon a vacancy being or becoming available elsewhere, which cannot be guaranteed. Probationers who seek release from the local authority to which they have been allocated must recognise that they run the risk of losing their place on the induction scheme.

Voluntary Sector

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the final phase of the Strategic Funding Review will be completed.

Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-16844 on 31 May 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament/webapp/wa.search .

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Finance

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will establish a budget office in the Parliament to provide an independent assessment of Executive financial estimates.

George Reid: The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has not considered establishing a budget office in the Parliament to provide an independent assessment of Executive financial estimates.

  Such assessment is already provided by the Finance Committee, whose remit, under Rule 6.6 of Standing Orders is:

  To consider and report on:

  
(a) any report or other document laid before the Parliament by members of the Scottish Executive containing proposals for, or budgets of, public expenditure or proposals for the making of a tax-varying resolution, taking into account any report or recommendations concerning such documents made to them by any other committee with power to consider such documents or any part of them;
(b) any report made by a committee setting out proposals concerning public expenditure;
(c) Budget Bills, and
(d) any other matter relating to or affecting the expenditure of the Scottish Administration or other expenditure payable out of the Scottish Consolidated Fund.


  The committee is supported by an expert adviser and by researchers in SPICe. The committee can also commission research from external sources.